Strong structures, great prospects: AGON promoter Ingo Volckmann visits Cuban boxing school in Havana ahead of historic boxing event on Friday.
AGON Sports makes boxing history again! Next Friday, April 11, Ingo Volckmann’s German promotion will host the first professional boxing event in Cuba for over 60 years at the renowned 5-star hotel “Melia Internacional” in Varadero.
In the run-up to this historic event in the Cuban tourist region of Varadero, organizer Ingo Volckmann went to the venue to get a first-hand impression. The AGON boss visited the training facility and the prevailing conditions at the boxing base in Havana. The visit of the Cuban national team left a lasting impression on the German promoter. In addition to first-class trainers, he was particularly impressed by the professional infrastructure.
“A very professional impression”
“We were at the Cuban base – and I have to say: of course there are always things that can be improved,” says Volckmann. “But what impressed me was the thoroughly professional structure. There were two doctors and physiotherapists on site. Basically, everything you need for first-class care.” The personal exchange also showed that the medical and sports staff were excellently trained: “Overall, a very professional impression.”
He describes the training conditions on site as robust but functional: “The training conditions are good overall. There are two gyms with numerous sandbags and several rings. These are ideal conditions for sparring. The equipment is a bit outdated, but everything you need for effective training is there. Perhaps we in Europe are sometimes too spoiled. The guys there train with simpler equipment and yet you can see how far you can get with it.”
The coaching team also impressed, particularly with their analytical approach. “The coaches really impressed me, especially with their analytical work,” Volckmann revealed. “They prepare their athletes specifically for fights, evaluate opponents, recognize recurring patterns and develop strategies based on them. That’s very professional and I’ve rarely experienced it in this depth, even here.”
The quality of the boxers on site also made people sit up and take notice. The successful Berlin promoter described them as “impressive”. Volckmann: “I was only able to see limited sparring, but what I did see was strong. Some of them are Olympic champions and you can tell. I’m particularly looking forward to April 11, when they want to show their full potential.”
Exclusive opportunities for AGON-Stall
Particularly noteworthy: the partnership with the Cuban boxing federation opens up exclusive opportunities for the German team as the only promoter, and in the long term. “The fact that this collaboration came about was a happy coincidence and sometimes it’s just gut instinct that decides,” says the AGON boss. “I wouldn’t have taken this step if I wasn’t convinced that there was enormous potential here. The four boxers we have signed already have experience. And what comes next is just as promising. I am convinced that something really big can be created here.” Volckmann recently revealed more about the background to the historic partnership in an exclusive BOXSPORT interview.
An evening for the history books
The boxing event in Varadero, in which double Olympic champion Julio Cesar La Cruz meets Dilan Prasovic in the WBA eliminator in the main event, will be rounded off by numerous WBA title fights. These include appearances by new AGON boxers Lazaro Alvarez, Moussa Gholam, Arlen Lopez and Erislandy Alvarez. With this event, AGON Sports sets another exclamation mark in the international boxing scene and at the same time honors the rich tradition of Cuban boxing. An evening for the history books, live from the tourist heart of Cuba, Varadero.
TyC Sports, a TV channel known primarily in Central and South America, will stream the event live. The entire event will also be streamed free of charge on the official YouTube channel of the German boxing promotion! Freely accessible for viewers all over the world. The broadcast starts at 7 pm local time (1 am on Saturday morning German time). Tickets for the event in Cuba are available at all Melia and Gran Caribe hotels in Varadero and Havana.
Text: Press release / AGON Sports